A few weeks back, Google started offering Google voice service directly from your gmail account. This enables to make calls from your gmail account, free calls to USA and Canada. Later Google Voice posted on its blog some calling tips which are very useful. Let me share it with you all.

If you have not yet setup Google Voice in your gmail, go to Google Voice, click on settings and check the box next to Google Chat in your list of forwarding phones. Now, you’ll be able to make and receive calls to your Google Voice number right in Gmail.

Tips about calls from Gmail:

1. Call Screening : You want to ignore a particular incoming call. Click the “Screen” button. The caller will be sent to your voicemail and you can listen in while they leave you a message. If you decide you want to take the call, just click “Join” at any time to pick up.

2. Switching calls between Gmail and other phonesLet’s say you picked up a call on your Gmail, but you need to head out the door. It’s a pain to hang up and call the person back from your cell, especially for those important calls. Hit the asterisk (*) on the Gmail dial pad at any time during the call and your other Google Voice forwarding phones will ring.

3. Recording incoming calls

4. Whenever you miss a call, you can see a notification in your Google Voice inbox, or receive an email notification, or both. This setting can be turned on and off from the Calls tab in the Settings menu.

Some of these tips are really helpful, specially forwarding the call to your number in between a call. If Google keeps on going like this in Voip, it is sure to capture the market very soon.